A gap year program is a structured experience designed to help students or young professionals take time away from formal studies to gain personal, academic, or professional growth.
It is a structured break. It can be organized by schools, universities, non-profit organizations, or private companies that specialize in international education and cultural exchange.
These programs can last from a few weeks to a full academic year (often 3, 6, or 12 months).
The level of organization depends on the programs : some provide housing, meals, and training, while others focus mainly on placements and leave participants more independent.
The cost of a gap year program depends on the destination, type of activities, and the level of support offered. It can range from a few hundred euros for local volunteering to several thousand for international placements, especially if accommodation and language courses are included.
Some programs are tuition-based (like study abroad or language immersion), while others allow participants to offset costs through work exchange, teaching, or stipends.
At RealStep, we believe that gap year programs should allow you to grow personally and enhance your employability skills.
Our mission is to help you choose the gap year project that fits your interests, goals, and skills. We also ensure you enjoy this incredible experience confidently and safely.
We offer a variety of programs designed to suit different interests and objectives.
Find more information here !
To make sure you really get the most from your gap year program experience, you can combine programs.
You could finance your travels, discover diverse cultures, and develop both soft and hard skills. For example, you could work for a few months in Australia and then participate in a conservation project in Thailand.
This flexibility enables you to tailor your gap year to your personal and professional ambitions.
According to the Gap Year Association, a gap year is a period of time dedicated to personal growth and exploration between a student's high school graduation and first year of college.
A gap year is a period during which you decide to take time for yourself. It can be done at any moment of your life : after high school, during and after college or in the middle of your career.
You are free to choose whatever you want to do. Whether you want to work, intern, travel or experience a little bit of everything, you make your own choices!
Gap year programs can include:
A gap year internship is like a regular internship but designed for students or young professionals taking time off from studies.
These programs are shorter and more flexible, often abroad, and may combine work experience with travel, cultural immersion, or language learning.
They can be paid or unpaid, usually lasting a few weeks to several months in fields like NGOs, education, marketing, or hospitality.
They allow you to explore a potential career path, build practical skills, and gain confidence in your abilities. Internships can also expand your professional network. This can be highly beneficial for future employment opportunities.
Learn more about gap year internships in our guide.
Employment during your gap year helps you develop essential professional skills such as teamwork, time management, and problem-solving, while earning savings to fund future studies or travel.
Jobs abroad can also improve your adaptability and intercultural communication skills.
Learning new skills or languages outside of a traditional academic setting opens doors to unique experiences and competencies. For example, learning culinary arts in Italy, or scuba diving in Thailand provide both personal fulfillment and professional value.
Volunteering combines personal growth with social impact. You can help local communities, protect wildlife or participate in environmental projects. Volunteering develops empathy, leadership, and organizational skills.
Traveling allows cultural immersion, enhances language skills, and broadens perspectives. Traveling during a gap year encourages independence and flexibility. They are key qualities in both personal and professional life.
Each type of gap year program can be done locally or internationally. Programs near home allow you to save money and gain experience. While, going abroad enhances cultural awareness and exposes you to new ways of thinking, living and working.
Experiencing a gap year abroad adds excitement and broadens your perspective. You will gain maturity, strengthen problem-solving skills, and expand your ambitions.
International experiences are highly valued in today’s globalized world. They can significantly improve your career prospects. Living in a different country encourages adaptability, resilience, and intercultural competence . Those skills are in high demand in every industry.
Going abroad also enables you to meet people from diverse backgrounds, learn new languages, and immerse yourself in local customs. These experiences help you build lasting memories and connections around the world.
A gap year after high school is a great asset for your college applications and overall maturity. You will come back from this experience with more independence and autonomy.
It’s also an opportunity for you to gain academic clarity and help you find your path by discovering new industries through internships or jobs.
Even though gap year programs are an incredible experience, they can be pretty scary and really burdensome when you just come out of high school.
The key is to prepare in advance. You can identify what you want to learn. This will help you decide on the best location and type of program. You would then be able to research logistics such as visas or accommodation.
You can choose to have a gap year before applying to college but also ask for a gap year before starting it, after you have been accepted. You can check with the different universities you are thinking about applying to what their policies on gap years are.
Learn more about gap year programs after high school here.
Gap year programs during college can provide academic and professional clarity.
They offer structured opportunities to test different fields of study or career paths. Unlike taking an unstructured break, these programs are designed to maximize growth. When you combine work placements, internships, language courses, or volunteering, you come deeply enriched from this experience.
They allow you to build on the knowledge gained in your first years of college. You will also strengthen your professional skills in a real-world setting. The structured nature of these programs means you’re not just taking time off, but following a plan that ensures both personal development and career readiness.
Any professional experience gained through such programs directly enhances your employability. The international or intercultural dimension many programs include makes you more adaptable and resilient.
Later in your journey, even after some professional experience, a gap year program can be equally impactful as it gives you the framework to reassess your goals, expand your network, and reconnect with projects that truly motivate you.
Join a unique diving and marine conservation program between the Seychelles (Mahé) and southern Thailand.
You will obtain your PADI Divemaster qualification with the Reef Ecosystem Diver (RESD) specialty. You will take part in essential marine research projects on coral reefs and fish species.
The program involves daily dives (1–2 times per day, 5 days a week), marine debris surveys, and community awareness activities, alongside training sessions and presentations.
Teaching positions are available across Thailand, from Bangkok to rural provinces. Contracts start from three months and are renewable thereafter.
Teachers earn around $1000 per month. This ensures strong local purchasing power and the ability to save for travel during the long school breaks in October and April.
Upon arrival, participants complete a 120-hour TEFL training that combines theory, practice, and certification.
This program offers internships with NGOs in communication and related issues across Europe. They take place in cities such as Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona, Rome, Athens, and Split.
Interns support local organizations through tasks like content creation, graphic design and public relations. Those tasks depend on the NGOs’ needs and the participant’s skills.
The program combines hands-on professional experience with cultural immersion.
An orientation week and weekly check-ins with a supervisor ensure a smooth integration.
With Realstep, you can build your own gap year, start with a paid job and then volunteer in an NGO. You can find all our projects here. Don’t hesitate to contact us !
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